Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/240

212 move directly eastward for about ten or twelve miles," he said. "There we shall come to a fairsized river, and if we can find a boat, we'll be fixed, for we can hide in the daytime and float down the stream at night."

Walter had thought himself very brave on striking out, but before half a mile was covered he was pale and so exhausted he had to sit down. "I—I don't seem to have the backbone that I thought I had," he panted.

"Take it easy, lad," responded Palmer. "Remember the old proverb, 'The more haste, the less speed.' We haven't got to get to Manila at any definite time."

"But I want to get out of this horrible country. I declare, if I ever get on shipboard again, I'll never want to go ashore—at least, while I am in the Philippines."

"It's no joke, that's certain," returned the old sailor. "When we left the Yorktown for that scouting expedition, I never dreamed of getting in such a pickle as this, not me!"

"I don't believe I'd feel so bad if I knew Si was safe. He was my chum, you know."

"Exactly; and two of those other prisoners were